82 percent turnout in Manipur poll, 5 killed by militants

Imphal (Manipur, India), Jan 28 (PTI) An estimated 82 per cent of the Manipur electorate today exercised their franchise in assembly elections in the northeast Indian state, marred by militants' violence that claimed five lives and left two injured. Manipur Chief electoral offficer P C Lawmkunga said as per preliminary official reports, 82 per cent of the 1.74 million electorate cast their votes. But district-wise break-up from the nine districts in the state were yet to be received. A central reserve police man, three village volunteer force personnel and a civilian were killed and two injured when miliants attacked a polling station in an interior area in Sugnu assembly constituency of Chandel district, official sources said. A total of 279 candidates were in the fray for the 60 seats. Congress and its partner Communist Party of India, which comprise the ruling Secular Progressive Front, fought the poll separately. While Congress contested all the 60 seats, CPI did so in 24. Trinamool Congress, which has one legislator and is an ally of Congress at the Centre and in the eastern state of West Bengal contested in 47 seats on its own. Peoples Democratic Front, an opposition five-party alliance comprising Manipur Peoples Party, Nationalist Congress Party, Communist Party of India (Marxist), Janata Dal (United) and Rashtriya Janata Dal, contested 43 seats. Bhartiya Janata Party fielded candidates in 19 seats and Manipur State Congress Party in 34. Manipur unit of Nagaland-based Naga Peoples Front (NPF) contested in 12 constituencies. Counting of votes will be taken up on March 6 after polling in four other states - Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand and Goa - are completed. While Uttarakhand and Punjab go to polls on January 30 and Goa on March 3, Uttar Pradesh will have a seven-phased polling with the last round on March 3. PTI